goodrich



2 Sheets-Silent 2. C. E. GOODRIGH.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

Patented Nov. 21

@www

(No Model.)

UNITEDV STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES E. GOODRICH, OF PIOOHE, NEVADA, ASSIGNORy OF VONE-HALF TO THOMASJ. OSBORNE, OF SAME PLACE.

CURTAIN- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,078, datedNovember 21, 189.3. Application led December 17, 1892. SerialNaf/55,427. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. GooDRIoH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pioche, in the county of Lincoln and State of Nevada, haveinvented a new and useful Curtain-Fixture, of which the following is aspeci fioation.

This invention relates to curtain fixtures. The objects of theimprovements herein described are to provide improved shade rollerdevices, by means of which the upper and lower portions of a Window canbe automatically covered or uncovered simultane-` ously, or one at atime, so that ventilation from the tops of windows or other openings canbe facilitated without inconveniencing or subjecting the occupants ofrooms to drafts, dac. Also means are provided whereby light maybeadmitted from either the top or the bottom of a window, as conveniencemayrequire, so that tle curtains can be adj usted with respect to thesun, and the proper light can be admitted to the room, while at the sametime not exposing the room to the direct rays of the sun.

With these and many other objects in view which will readily appear asthe nature of 1the V invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combinationV and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. In theaccompanying drawingsr-Figure'l is a front elevation showing the'herein-de-v scribed curtain iixture in one of its adjusted positions onawindow. Fig. 2 is a'vertical. longitudinal sectional view on t-he line-x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of theshade roller and its appurtenances. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective ofone of the grooved Winding rollers at one end of the shade roller. Fig.5 is a similar view of one of the stationarysupporting brackets. Fig. 6is a detail in perspective of one of the roller caps. Fig. 7 is a detailend view of one of the end pawl plates or disks. Fig. 8 is a detail planview of one of t-he roller caps. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the loopend of the pull cord.

Referring to the accompanyl n g drawings A represents a .hollow shaderoller of wood or other light material which accommodates thelongitudinally disposed shaft B. The shaft B, extends through the entirelength of the roller A,and projects slightlybeyond each end thereof, andcarries atrsuch end the grooved winding wheels C. Each of the groovedwinding wheels O, isarranged on a hub portion D, which projects beyondthe outer sides of the wheels and into the ends of the roller, where thesame are mounted on the projecting ends of the shaft B, and said windingwheels C, are so constructed that the base of their grooves form acircle, the diameter of which is about one half that of the roller A,while the outer edges or rims of the wheels form a slightly largercircle than the roller. the Winding Wheels O, is provided on both sidesthereof with the notched collars E, the inner collar of which isdesigned to be engaged by means of the roller pawls F,`which aredesigned to arrest the motion of the roller and the recoil of theactuating spiral spring G. The spiral spring G. is of the ordinaryconstruction, and one end thereof is fastened to the shaft B, while, theother endis secured to the roller A, so that the shaft with its attachedwheels can revolve4 independently of the roller A. The arresting pawlsF, are pivotally mounted or secured to the pawl disk or plate H, whichis held to one end of the roller A, by means of the ferrulell, while theother end of the roller receives a similar ferrule I, which holds inposition an opposite bearing disk H', which forms a journal lfor one endof the shaft B, and the opposite pawl disk forms a journal for the otherend of the shaft.

Although l have described' the arresting pawl devices at one end of theroller, still it will be readily understood by those skilled in the artthat the construction can be duplicated at the otherend'in order tosecure a positive accuracy in thecatch and release of such pawl devices.The outer notched collar E, of one of the wheels C, is designed to beengaged by the stop pawl J, vpivotally mounted within one of thenon-rotative cylindrical or disk wheel caps L. i The wheel caps L, arearranged to flt looselyv over the outer extended ends of the hubs D, soasto entirely inclose the grooved windingwheels C, and are provided inthe rims thereof with' the slots or openings M, and the inner annularflanges N,

One of- IOC I which inclose therebetween on the roller the curtain orshade n, attached to the shade roller and adapted to be wound or unwoundthereon. receive the rollei` supporting ribbons O. The said rollersupporting ribbons O, are preferably of thin spring metal, and the lowerends thereof are secured in the transverse notches o, in the windingwheel C, and are designed to be wound up in the grooves of said wheelsas the same revolve in one direction, or unwind therefrom as theyrevolve in the other direction', and said supporting ribbons O, whichpass through the slots or openings in the wheel caps, have their upperends secured in a stationary grooved supporting disk P. The supportingdisks P, are also provided with transverse notches p, which receive theupper ends of the metal ribbons O and` are removably held in suchnotches by a wrap of the'ribbon upon itself in the grooves of said disksand said disks aresecured stationary on the supporting brackets Q,securei to the top of thewindowframeabove theupper end of the uppersashor window opening. It will be observed at this point, that by reason ofthe ribbons O, passing through the caps L, the latter are necessarilyprevented from revolvingfA and therefore always have a fixed position asthe ends of the roller and the pawls in said caps which engage the outernotched collars of the winding wheel serve to hold the roller at anypoint desired by preventing the same from turning in the directioninduced by itsv spring, thus leaving it free to revolve in the oppositedirection'.

It is ofcourse understood that the fixture is designed to be controlledin such a manner thattheroller may be lowered from the top of the windowas far as may be desired leaving the remainder of the window covered, orby means of the spiral spring G, the roller A, may be revolvedindependently of the shaft B, so as to raise and lower the shade n,while at the same time the roller A, is heldin a stationary positionwith respect to the up and down movement of the same, at the option ofthe operator. This latter operation provides for uncovering the windowat the bottom.

I'norder to hold the roller in a stationary position while operating theshade thereof, I employ a pull cord R, the lower end of which isprovided with a knob r, and the upper end of which has connected theretothe metal loop or-ring S, which loosely engages one of the knobs at theouter extremities of the projecting-hubs D, so that the cord will notwind thereon. By grasping this cord with one hand while the roller is ina stationary posiftion, the operator prevents the ascent of the roller,which would follow from the rolling motion imparted to the roller bypulling down onV the curtain, and which would therefore, when asufficient tension of the spring was reached, cause the end Wheels toturn .in a

The slots M, in the wheel caps L,

direction so as to wind up the metal ribbon thereon and elevate theentire roller. It will be observed that while the roller is in thismanner held stationary in au adjusted position, the curtain or shade maybe wound or unwound'at will by pulllng down on the curtain or allowingit to ascend under the motion imparted to the roller by the spring, itbeing ot' course understood by those skilled in the art that by allowingthe curtain to ascend slowly the pawls F, will engage the notched collarE, so as to stop the winding up of the shade or curtain at any positionby preventing the roller from turning, and on the other hand by allowingthe curtain to rapidly rise, the pawls will travel over the notches inthe collars and not engage the same,A as is usual. It will be observedthat when the roller is stopped by the pawls F, a further revolution inthe direction induced by the spring will be checked by means of the stoppawl J, arranged in one of the w-heelcaps L. By releasing the cord R,and pulling down on the curtain, a revolving motion is necessarilyimparted to roller, A, and this is continued until the tension of thespring is sufficient to overcome the weight ofthe roller, or

in other words the roller will revolve around the shaft until thetension of the spring is sufficient to cause the shaft-B, to alsorevolve, thereby turning the wheels C, and winding up the supportingribbons, which causes the roller to ascend toward the top of the window,the tension of the spring being so vregu-lated, that the roller willreach its highest point at the top of the window before the curtain isentirely unwfound therefrom. The shade 0f course can be operatedindependently of the vertical movement of the roller at any point. Theroller is lowered from the top by unwinding or pulling down on the shadeor'fcurtain until the tension of the spring is sufficient to causethe-roller to begin'to ascend. By then quickly releasing the pressure ion the curtain byv raising the hand,l the roller in respense to its owngravity will quickly descend, unwinding itself from the supportingribbons and Winding around itself in its descent, the curtain or shade.When the desired point in the descent of the curtain is reached, thecurtain is checked by theV hand which will cause the stop pawl J, todrop into the outer notched collar E, thereby holding the rollerstationary in its adjusted position. While this motion of the curtain istaking place, and also as the roller is ascending, the spring isnecessarily inactive.

From the foregoing description it Will beapparent that theconstructionspeciiied provides a curtain fixture, the roller of whichcan be automatically raised and lowered by simply grasping the curtainor shade, and also automatically checked or arrested at any adjustedposition without touching the checking devices, and without releasingthe hand` from the curtain or shade. This result is,

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secured principallyby reason of the independent pawl device for one ofthe winding wheels.

Although I have described and illustrated the pawl device as astationary disk cap alongside of one winding wheel and carrying a stoppawl, nevertheless `it will be apparent that the essential points are,that this pawl device be loose on the hub of the winding wheel which itengages, and be always retained in a fixed non-rotative position, sothat the winding wheel engaged thereby can freely turn therein. Thetapespassing through the slots in the flange of said caps serve to hold thesame stationary, but to secure the result described, it issimplynecessary that the disk portion of the cap which carries the stop pawlbe suitably mounted stationary alongside of the winding wheel having theouter pawl notches, whereby the automatic raising and lowering of theroller, by reason of the tension of the spring therein and its owngravity, can be effected by simply manipulating the curtain or shade asfully described.

Chapges in the form, proportion and the mirror details of constructionmay be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isV v 1. In a curtain fixture, the spring-actuatedshade roller, winding Wheels attached to the extremities of the shaft ofsaid roller and oneor both of which is provided with pawl notches,non-rotative wheel caps inclosing said winding wheels and one or both ofwhich carry check pawls adapted to engage the' pawl notches of thewinding Wheels, and the dexible supporting ribbons or bands,substantially as set forth.

2. In a curtain fixture, the spring-actuated shade roller, deeplygrooved winding Wheels arranged on the opposite extremities of theroller shaft and one of which is provided with pawl notches at bothsides thereof, non-rotative loosely mounted wheel caps entirelyinclosing both of said winding wheels and one -of which carries a pawladapted to engage the pawl notches at one side of Vone of the windy ingwheels, and flexible supporting ribbons or tapes connected at one end tosaid winding- Wheels, substantially as set forth.

3. In a curtain xture, the combination of a hollow shade roller, asingle shaft arranged inside of the roller and extending beyond the endsthereof, deeply groeved winding wheels fixedly attached to the projectedextremities of said shaft and one of which is provided with. oppositenotched pawl collars at both sides thereof, arresting pawls pivoted toone end of the roller and adapted to engage the inner notched pawlcollar of one winding wheel, non-rotative wheel caps loosely embracingthe hubs of said Winding wheels and entirely covering the same, one ofsaid wheel caps having a stop pawl adapted to engage the outer notchedcollar of one windingwheel, and iiexible supporting ribbons winding andunwinding in the grooved wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. Inga curtain fixture, the spring-actuated shade roller carrying thearresting pawls at one end, winding wheels attached to the extremitiesof the shaft of said roller and having projecting hubs, one of said.wheels having pawl notches at both sides thereof, the inner of which areengaged by said arresting pawls, cylindrical wheel caps loosely fittedon the projected hubs of thewheels and entirely inclosing the latter,said wheel caps having slots or openings communicating with the groovesof the wheel, and inner annular fianges, a stop pawl pivoted inside ofone of said wheel caps andV adapted to engage the pawl notches of one ofthe wheels opposite the arresting pawls, and the supporting ribbons,Wound around the wheels and passing through the slots of the caps,substantially as setforth.

5. In a curtain fixture, the spring actuated shade roller, the Windingwheel attached to the extremities of the shaft of saidroller and havingprojecting hubs terminating at their outer extremities in knobs, nonrotative wheel caps having slots the supporting ribbons or tapes windingon said wheels, and passing through the slots of said caps separate pawldevices for one of said wheels, and a pull cord having at one end a`loop or ring adapted to removably engage the knob extremity of one vofthe wheel hubs, substantially as set forth.

t 6. In a curtain fixture, the combination with an ordinary springactuated shade roller; of winding wheels attached to the outsideextremities of the shaft of said roller, one ofl said winding Wheelshaving pawl notches independent of the roller pawls, a disk supportedloosely in a non-rotative position alongside of the notched windingwheel and having a pawl adapted to engage said pawl notches, and theiiexible supporting ribbons, substantially as set forth.

7. In a curtain fixture, the combination with the adjustable shaderoller carrying winding .wheels at one end; of the non-rotative sup-CHARLES E. GOODRICH. Witnesses:

JOHN SHIER, WM. DE FRIEZ.

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